releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
25
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
0
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
55
%
Field Cover
75
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located in the center of a broad forested seepage swamp dominated by Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica. This stand has a rather dense shrub layer of Clethra alnifolia and Vaccinium spp., and a dense herb layer overwhelmingly dominated (at the time of sampling) by Symplocarpus foetidus. Braided seepage rills and areas of saturated muck are characteristic of the substrate. This is a fairly large site for this community type, although it must have been much larger in the past, prior to proliferation of beavers in the watershed.
Composite sample of 3. Very difficult to collect samples.
0-10+ cm - peat and root mat.
Hummocks of roots and organic matter with silty muck in channels. Sphagnum and liverworts on hummocks.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
No evidence of disturbance within plot and immediately surrounding area. However, a road and beaver swamp are located just upstream, and a larger beaver swamp is located just downstream.